With rising climate changes, water depletion and pollution, an earth-friendly lifestyle is becoming a better way to live. Parents can teach their child to respect our planet so resources are still available long after we are gone. Small changes can have the biggest impact. According to Environmental Defense, Global Warming by the Numbers - August, 2007, "America is ranked as the top global warming polluter in the world,'' and "2006 was the hottest year on record in the continental United States.'' Parents can be a role model for their children and teach them ways to be conservative and earth-friendly. Working Mother magazine advises parents "to start simply and build gradually.'' "The best place to begin? Right where you live. It may not seem like a big deal to pack plastic-bag- and juice-box-free lunches, sort recyclables, unplug a charged cell phone or use energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, but little things do add up," according to the magazine. Teaching your child that they can make a difference with small environment-friendly changes will be a lesson that can help us all. Other ways to help preserve our earth include conserving water and recycling/reusing packaging. Keep reusable cloth bags in your car to pack groceries instead of plastic store bags. Saving the planet starts at home. For more info visit my website at www.coastaltherapist.com. Parents, please take a moment to share with others your advice or experiences with ways to help preserve our planet.

Oh please, If you stop reading my column believe me my feelings will not be hurt and I can assure you I will not stop being a writer, and others will read my column. I write my column for ALL individuals. If my column offends closed-minded individuals... then just don't read it... But I will not be bullied or threatened into discriminating against individuals based on race, gender or religion.

I thank GOD that we live in America...and have the choice to read or not to read.

Hello to All! Thanks for visiting my blog. I am a licensed psychotherapist who enjoys working with parents to help them understand their child. I help parents understand and communicate better with their children.

I also want to encourage you to read my "Parenting Tip of the Week" every Monday in the "Accent" section of the Savannah Morning News. I will be giving tips to parents to help them cope and/or understand their child from birth to college. Feel free to drop me a line or a comment about my tip of the week, or a question you may have.

As most parents know, the teen years can be troublesome. A new behavior among teens has been linked to a rise in abnormal heart rhythms, aggressive behaviors, substance abuse and sexual promiscuity. Teens are finding they are able to get drunk off a "caffeine buzz" by consuming energy drinks. Parents may not initially see the harm in their child drinking these types of drinks; however, teens who abuse them on a regular basis may engage in risky behaviors, according to a study. Also, there are health risks involved in consuming large amounts of energy drinks. Those risks include nausea, coordination problems and heart palpitations. These symptoms have led to unusually high emergency-room visits among teens.

In March, The Journal of American College Health published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics and risky behavior. The study's author, Kathleen Miller, an addiction researcher at the University of Buffalo, said: "The finding doesn't mean the drinks cause bad behavior. But the data suggest that regular consumption of energy drinks may be a red flag for parents that their children are more likely to take risks with their health and safety. "It appears the kids who are heavily into drinking energy drinks are more likely to be the ones who are inclined toward taking risks," Miller said.

Hi Moms! Being a great mom requires more than just taking care of the family. You must also take care of yourself, and a great mom will strive to do both. Some abilities great moms possess include having a sense of humor, especially when children cause chaos in the house. Also moms need stamina - running a household, taking care of kids and, for most women, a full-time job requires lots of energy. Great moms need creativity to always be prepared for the unexpected that may come with having children. Most important, great moms need the ability to relax and have "alone time." This time can help moms re-energize their minds and bodies to better care for their family. For more info you can visit my website at www.coastaltherapist.com.

A reader asked: Can having a baby change the relationship between me and my husband?

Reading books, taking classes and listening to advice from family may ease the stress, but be certain reality will hit. It is difficult to really prepare for the little one, but couples can understand how a baby will affect the relationship. Adding a baby to your family can certainly be difficult and stressful. This may trigger feelings of guilt for parents who are not enjoying every minute of parenthood.

Kidshealth.org. has the following advice for new parents: "Be sure to notice what's going right, too. Praise yourself and your partner for managing yet another round of feedings, diaper changes and baby entertaining. All new parents need to hear about what they're doing well. And try to be aware of each other's emotions and needs. If your partner has had a particularly stressful day, offer to take the baby so your partner can soak in the tub, watch a favorite TV show, or read a book for half an hour. Above all, enjoy the time with your new arrival - your little one will grow up faster than you realize."

Hello to everyone and thanks for the overwhelming support of my new column! I am from Savannah and of course a Savannah girl! I want to help our community, hence my new column. I am open to questions and comments from my readers relating to parenting questions. Please ask away. I would love to hear what readers think and topics they would like to know more about. My next parenting tip will appear this Monday in the "Accent" section so look for it! Thanks again Savannah, this is a great community and I am proud to live here. Look forward to hearing from my readers.

Every year we celebrate Independence Day with parades, picnics and family activities. This is a great opportunity for families to spend time together. Some Fourth of July activities include fireworks, picnics and family get-togethers. Although all of these activities entertain family and friends, children tend to get bored later in the day. Ways to keep your child entertained include fun crafts, relay races and baking family recipes. Ring tosses, tug-of-war or tag races can keep your little one busy. End your holiday with the family watching fireworks together to celebrate our great country. For more info visit my website at www.coastaltherapist.com. From my family to yours...have a great fourth.

Question of the week: How will your family celebrate the Fourth of July holiday?

Being a psychotherapist, I have watched many a show about my business. The last one - "In Treatment" on HBO was a true disappointment :(. I can say this new show "The Mentalist" is awesome. We as therapists are not only trained to observe certain thought patterns but also behavior patterns and all that implies.

I feel this show truly tells the story of what I look at and observe which includes the "whole picture". I can tell a lot about a person ie., how they live their life, the choices they make and what their family environment entailed, just by looking at the individual. I still am truly in awe of this great new TV series. Catch it if you can.

When I was growing up we had no such things as cell phones. Nowadays it seems that every kid I see is carrying a cell phone! Read my weekly "Parenting Tip of the Week" column today in the "Accent" section of the newspaper. I dicuss issues that parents should consider before getting their child a cell phone. Or you can visit my website at www.coastaltherapist.com for more information. If you have a topic you would like me to discuss send me an email at michelle@coastaltherapist.com. I love to hear from my readers. Take care Savannah!